It will be complete and total name changes, both first and surname. Just to set expectations on this, it is a later this year item.

When asked if the change would be available to everyone, or just those with the Resident last name, he added:

It will be available to everyone.

And, in answer to yet another question about whether or not you could hide your name:

No hiding of names. First name and surname combos will have to be unique like they are today. A couple of other questions that came up – no re-use of retired names, once a name has been used, it belongs to that account forever. We keep a transnational name change history. Only standard English characters will be permitted.

Just to make it clear, this is an upcoming ability to change to the actual avatar name, not the display name. When asked about how this change will affect the display names of avatars (which can be updated once a week):

This has no affect on display names and largely I do not anticipate we will change how display names work. If anything, it somewhat sunsets the need for them.

So, that makes everything a little clearer! Thanks, Patch! I predict that there will be a land rush on names once this feature is turned on for users. Being able to change both your first AND your last name (as long as somebody else doesn’t already have that combination) is a very nice feature to have!

New users joining Second Life will still be given the automatic “last name” of “Resident”, but have the option of changing if they wish.

The fee for name changes has not been announced, however, at this point the indication is that the fee will be in fiat currency (i.e. US dollars) not Linden Dollars.

One of the reasons the return of last names will take time to be implemented is that all of the SL web properties – like the Marketplace – have to be updated to recognise users as they change their names (something which applies across almost all of the SL services when you think about it).

It is wise not to speculate about what “might” happen at some time in the future regarding anything related to Second Life, or life in general for that matter.

1. ALL new accounts will be created with the Resident last name. Whether your personal choice in viewers allows that name to be hidden or not, ALL new accounts will have the last name of Resident.

2. IF a user chooses to become a Premium Member, they will have an option to purchase a different last name. The available last names will be from a Pre-Approved, rotating, list. If you do not want to purchase the option for a different last name, then don’t. No one is being FORCED to choose a last name other than Resident.

3. Will having the option to choose a last name change the gobbledy-gook first names? No. Why? Because some people will still choose to have weird or goofy first names that have no meaning at all, regardless of whether or not last names are available.

4. Will using your preferred, chosen, first name be easier when last names are available? YES! Why? Because you pick your own first name, then have an option from a pre-approved list of last names, to pick from. This means you will ALWAYS be able to have your preferred, chosen, first name, even if someone else is also using that name. Provided you are a Premium Account member AND you have paid for the option to have a different last name.

What is new about this information is that you have to have a Premium account in order to purchase a last name for your avatar. (Thanks to LittleMe Jewell for pointing out Dakota’s update!)

UPDATE Nov. 15th: This evening, I watched the recorded livestream of today’s Second Life Town Hall with Grumpity, Oz, and Patch Linden, and I wanted to add an update to this blogpost about the eagerly-anticipated ability to change your SL user name.

Grumpity reports that the team at Linden Lab is still working on it, but this project has been more complicated than anticipated. She now estimates that this will be released within the second quarter of next year (2019), rather than this year, which is definitely a major disappointment.

As for the cost of this new service, Grumpity estimates that it will be “on the order of a few months of Premium membership” (which is currently US$9.50 monthly, or US$22.50 quarterly, or US$72.00 annually). So expect this to cost about 20 to 25 dollars, which is about what I expected.

Grumpity stressed that these name changes are not meant to be (or replace) display names. She added that it should be possible for you to go back to a name you had before (for a fee).

Linden Lab will also be accepting suggestions from SL users for possible new last names, so watch for that announcement sometime in the future!

24 thoughts on “UPDATED: More Details on the Upcoming Ability to Change Your User Name in Second Life”

Yet again the Linden team just don’t get it.
Originally – being forced to pick from a limited list of last names meant you became the newest member of a family. That meant you knew you had family somewhere already in the game – you already belonged. I’ve met strangers with my same last name – it’s a great conversation starter.
And some of the funniest names I’ve seen are plays on their last name. It’s the difference between being given a blank piece of paper and asked to draw something vs a piece of paper with some ink blots already on it – most people will find it way easier to draw something creative based on the blots.

Oh yes. When i joined i chose the surname Magic. Within days i was invited to an exclusive group for people with this name and they had meet ups, advice for noobs etc. In my opinion that’s the way the name changes should be again, you get a list and you choose from it.

Uh, no. I don’t need Linden Labs to pick a ‘family’ for me. Happily we are all able to do that on our own in SL if we want to. Did you need some connect-the-dots paper to make your first name? Creativity should not be hampered. Second Life is a blank slate for imagination and it’s wonderful that LL is finally bringing the same philosophy to last names. There are always thousands of name generators out there for those that need them

This is exactly how i feel , its a waste of money to have to choose a last name from a list , i already have a family last name on my display name , i for one will stick with resident because im not paying US dollars to have to pick from a list . You should be able to type in the last name of choice if you first and last name combo is already taken it should tell you it is and make another one , just like display names. They bring back last names just to tell you sorry you have no creative control you have to pick from our list. No sorry my family has all had the same last night in our display name since we became a family i dont need LL telling me what my last name will be.

I really was excited about this option change until I saw the search option..i wish they would leave that option to us… check the box if you want your old name blocked .. some of us would love a fresh start with out needing to start from scratch for so many reasons .

Manny, Linden lab hasn’t give a firm date for this. We are hoping it will be before the end of 2018, but it might be pushed back into early 2019. Also, they have not announced how much it will cost (it will be a U.S. dollar fee though, not a Linden dollar fee).